Chapter 29: Stay by My Side
Translated by algoo | Proofread by algoo
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East City Station.
The Jail.
“Get in!”
Two jailers shoved Lin Xiu into a cell, locked the iron gate, glared at him, and then turned away. The cell was far from pleasant. Not only was it dimly lit, but the smell was also foul, and the entire environment exuded a sense of oppression.
Whether or not it was the East City Captain’s son’s deliberate arrangement, Lin Xiu’s cell lacked even a decent bed. There was only a pile of scattered straw, nowhere to sit, let alone lie down. He could only stand.
However, Lin Xiu wasn’t flustered. The one who should be panicking now was Steward Li.
“Sigh, young man, what are you in for?”
A voice reached his ears. Lin Xiu turned and saw an old man in the adjacent cell. He smiled. “I was framed. How about you, old man?”
The frail old man in the next cell sighed. “A wealthy landowner seized my fields. I came to the station to argue my case, but the officials here took his silver…”
He wasn’t the only prisoner sharing his woes with Lin Xiu.
One man had intervened when a nobleman harassed a woman in the street and was subsequently arrested.
Another couldn’t afford the “protection fee” demanded by the station officers for his stall. His stall was confiscated, and he ended up in jail.
And like the old man, some had offended influential gentry who bribed the officials, landing them in prison.
The East City Station didn’t have the authority to impose heavy sentences, but finding an excuse to beat them with a few rods and detain them for a while was within their power.
Although these people didn’t know each other, their similar predicaments created a sense of camaraderie with Lin Xiu.
After learning who Lin Xiu had offended, they became even more worried for him. The old man reached through the bars, offering two cold steamed buns. “Young man, hide these. You’ve offended the City Captain’s son. He won’t make things easy for you. He might not even give you food. Take these buns and eat them secretly at night…”
Lin Xiu didn’t take the buns. He smiled. “Don’t worry, old man. I’ll be out soon.”
The old man said anxiously, “Why won’t you listen? It’s not so easy to get out of this place!”
Just as he finished speaking, a flurry of footsteps approached from outside, followed by a high-pitched, anxious voice. “Young Master Lin! Young Master Lin! Where are you?”
Lin Xiu waved his hand. “Steward Li, I’m here.”
Steward Li rushed to Lin Xiu’s cell, his eyes falling on the locked iron gate. Furious, he barked, “Open the door!”
A sweating man in official uniform behind him snatched the key from a jailer’s hand, trembling as he unlocked the cell. He addressed Lin Xiu, “A misunderstanding, it was all a misunderstanding. This official is the East City Captain. We have investigated and determined that this case has nothing to do with you. You are free to go.”
The other prisoners stared in disbelief. He said he’d be out soon, and he was. But Lin Xiu remained where he was. “I haven’t confronted the old man yet. How can you say the investigation is complete?”
Steward Li was frantic. “Young Master Lin, please don’t delay any longer. His Majesty and the consorts are waiting in the palace. If we’re late, His Majesty’s wrath…”
The East City Captain also chimed in, “Indeed, Young Master Lin, His Majesty’s summons is urgent. You should quickly enter the palace. Don’t delay important matters…”
The East City Captain now wanted to strangle his son. The person His Majesty urgently summoned was actually imprisoned by them. Was his son trying to get him fired?
Lin Xiu looked at Steward Li. “If His Majesty gets angry, then just tell him the truth. I believe the East City Captain will testify for me. It wasn’t my intention to disrespect His Majesty and the consorts. I was simply imprisoned and couldn’t leave…”
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Outside, the sun blazed. Inside the jail, it was stifling. A chill ran down the East City Captain’s spine. He felt a wave of icy fear.
If this reached His Majesty, he was finished, utterly and completely finished!
His legs went weak. He wanted to kneel before Lin Xiu.
He grabbed Lin Xiu’s hand, whispering, “Young Master Lin, Young Master Lin, please be magnanimous and spare this official. I will forever remember your kindness. I’ll host a banquet at Zhaiyue Lou tonight. Please do me the honor of attending…”
Lin Xiu glanced at him indifferently. “The banquet is unnecessary. However, your son…”
The East City Captain gritted his teeth. “I’ll have him beaten! I’ll teach that rebellious son a lesson! Please rest assured, Young Master!”
Lin Xiu nodded. “I also heard that many people imprisoned here are innocent…”
The East City Captain immediately responded, “I’ll investigate! I’ll investigate right away and ensure justice is served!”
The other prisoners, hearing Lin Xiu’s words, looked elated. They hadn’t expected this young nobleman to speak up for them.
Lin Xiu gave the East City Captain a meaningful look, then said to Steward Li, “Let’s go. Don’t keep the consorts waiting.”
Steward Li, practically dying of anxiety, pulled Lin Xiu along. As they reached the courtyard, a young man walked in. He froze upon seeing Lin Xiu, then flew into a rage. “Who let you…”
“You scoundast!”
The East City Captain, who had never practiced martial arts, suddenly flew through the air, his foot connecting with the young man’s chest, sending him flying backward. Then, with a fawning smile, he addressed Lin Xiu, “Young Master Lin, the palace matters are urgent. Please go quickly…”
The East City Captain’s son didn’t recover until Lin Xiu and Steward Li had left the station. Rubbing his chest, he asked in bewilderment, “Father, what was that? Arresting him was…”
The mere mention of it infuriated the East City Captain. “Was what?! Shut your mouth!”
Who would dare detain someone His Majesty wanted? The East City Captain kicked his useless son again, still fuming. “You little idiot! You almost got me killed! Stop associating with those shady characters! Someone, bring the rod!”
Soon, screams echoed through the courtyard.
…
Due to the significant delay, Lin Xiu arrived at the palace at the hottest part of the day.
In Changchun Palace, Consort Gui wore no makeup. In this weather, any makeup would simply melt away. Although the palace maids were sweating profusely, they diligently fanned her.
Consort Gui waved them away, irritated. “Stop fanning! The air you’re fanning is hot!”
She stood at the entrance, anxiously looking out. “Has he arrived?”
A little palace maid rushed in, wiping the sweat from her forehead. “Your Ladyship, the young master has arrived. He’s currently at Yongning Palace…”
Consort Gui frowned, muttering under her breath, “The Empress thinks she’s so great. She gets to do everything before me, even getting twice as much ice every day…”
All the palace maids and eunuchs in Changchun Palace wisely lowered their heads. Some things the consort could say, but they couldn’t listen to.
After a considerable wait, several figures finally entered Changchun Palace.
Lin Xiu was in a good mood today. He never enjoyed bullying others, but he never showed mercy to those who tried to bully him.
When he realized he was being set up, he decided to turn the tables. He knew the palace would run out of ice today, and His Majesty would summon him again. Imperial matters took precedence over everything. Even if one’s parents died, they had to immediately answer the Emperor’s call.
Anyone who tried to detain him was defying the Emperor, disobeying an imperial decree. The punishment could be death.
No matter how influential the person behind this was, they couldn’t defy the true heavens.
He just wanted to earn money with dignity. Someone wanted him to grovel for it? No way.
The reason he didn’t make a big fuss wasn’t because he didn’t want to, but because he couldn’t. The Emperor wouldn’t care whether he was framed or not. To him, Lin Xiu was just an ice-making tool. Failing to enter the palace on time to make ice was dereliction of duty.
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Knowing he would be summoned, yet failing to inform the East City Station of the situation, making the Emperor and the consorts wait for him, was a matter that wouldn’t stand up to scrutiny.
While the East City Captain would undoubtedly be punished, he himself might incur the Emperor’s displeasure.
He didn’t have a deep-seated hatred for the person behind this. There was no need to do something that would harm both sides.
Lost in thought, he felt a waft of fragrance. The little palace maid who served Consort Gui hurried over, took a handkerchief from her bosom, and carefully wiped the sweat from his brow.
This little girl was grateful, repaying his kindness for saving her that time, even at the risk of offending the consort.
After finishing making ice for Changchun Palace, Lin Xiu was about to move on to the next palace when a palace maid approached. “Consort Gui summons you.”
Lin Xiu was taken aback. He had been to Changchun Palace three times, always working in the courtyard. The consort’s attitude had always been for him to leave quickly after finishing. Why the sudden summons today?
It was beyond his comprehension. He straightened his clothes and followed the maid into the main hall.
The ice basin was filled with ice, making the hall pleasantly cool. Consort Gui reclined on a soft couch. A palace maid fed her chilled watermelon cubes with a toothpick. Lin Xiu couldn’t help but marvel at the luxurious life of the feudal society, an experience no amount of money could buy in the future.
After eating a piece of watermelon, Consort Gui asked indifferently, without looking at him, “Why are you so late today?”
Lin Xiu replied, “I was delayed by some matters, Your Ladyship.”
Consort Gui looked up at him. “I say, you should just stay in Changchun Palace. Then I could enjoy chilled fruits and iced drinks anytime, without having to wait for you each time…”
Lin Xiu was bewildered. Could anyone stay in the Inner Palace? Except under special circumstances, no men other than eunuchs were allowed to enter. Otherwise, who knew how many cuckolds the Emperor would be.
Wasn’t it obvious that every time he entered the Inner Palace, several eunuchs followed him, never leaving his side?
Then, Consort Gui continued, “Don’t be afraid. It’s just a small snip, snip. You’ll get used to it. If you come to Changchun Palace, I won’t mistreat you…”
Lin Xiu’s eyes widened in shock. “(⊙o⊙)…”
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